John de Mol outfit ties with Studio Lambert for next psychological format

John de Mol’s Dutch outfit Talpa Studios, the indie behind the original version of The Traitors, is to co-produce its next psychological game format with Studio Lambert

The Golden Elevators has been developed by the Talpa Studios creative team led by chief creative officer Jasper Hoogendoorn. Talpa Studios will co-produce the US and UK versions with Studio Lambert, which is responsible for the American and British versions of The Traitors.

The high-stakes quiz show will see 10 contestants unite in the lobby of a skyscraper, aiming to reach the top floor and claim a rolling jackpot that starts at $100,000. Each round begins with a trivia question with two possible answers linked to an elevator which either ascends or plunges, eliminating everyone inside.

The format will be produced in Talpa Studios’ international production hub in Belgium.

Hoogendoorn said: “This outstanding new format combines quiz and strategy elements with a gripping psychological layer and a strong, simple visual identity. Add our hub strategy and the reunion with Stephen and his team, and you’re truly aiming for the top.

“John, Stephen and I all believe in deceptively simple ideas that create genuine psychological depth and global appeal, and this powerful collaboration provides a strong platform to bring the format to the international market.”

Chief executive of Studio Lambert Stephen Lambert added: “The last time we collaborated with Jasper the result was the US and UK versions of The Traitors, which have been spectacularly successful on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We think we have lightning in a bottle for the second time with The Golden Elevators, a show that combines the joy of a quiz with a psychological drama of trust and betrayal. We can’t wait to find the right home for it in America and Britain.”

Talpa is also behind The Floor (sold in over 30 countries), Caught in the Middle, and The Alliance, while All3Media label Studio Lambert is also behind Squid Game: The Challenge and The Circle for Netflix.